In National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) recall number 22V-800, the nearly 72,000 Kia Sportage units recalled in 2016 (recall 16V815) need to be sent back to dealers for another repair. Owners of the said cars are also instructed to park their cars outside and away from their homes - at least until the fix has been administered by the automaker.
Kia has told the NHTSA that a fire can start in the engine compartment, near the Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU), and that this risk exists whether or not the car is being driven or parked. The company is unsure of the cause of the fire but warns customers that an illuminated ABS light may be a sign that one is about to start. It has not received any reports of fatalities, injuries, or crashes linked to the fires.
In 2016, a recall was issued for 71,704 Sportages that were built between certain dates. Kia told investigators that water could get onto the HECU circuit board because "the wiring harness cover on the HECU may be improperly sealed." It added that water contaminated with salt (from melted snow, for example) can corrode the wiring harness connector pins and cause a short-circuit.
Kia has not yet determined how to fix the problem, but it will begin notifying owners of affected cars on December 22, 2022.
Source: Autoblog
